CHRIS Currie scooped a hat-trick of gold medals to lead the way for City of Oxford at the Cardiff International Open Meet.

Currie tasted men’s freestyle victory over 50, 100 and 200 metres.

The club, whose 50-strong squad reached 45 finals in Wales despite withdrawals due to injury and exams, also had success in the girls’ 14 and under section.

Natasha Fenton won 200m breaststroke gold, while Safiya Sillah came out on top in the 100m version.

Max Bolcato was second in the boys’ 14 and under 100m butterfly.

A hat-trick of bronze medals went to Ellie Millington (15 and over 50m freestyle), George Rudd (14 and under 400m individual medley) and Callum Smart (200m breaststroke 15 and over).

l NICK Skelton won three titles as Oxfordshire’s clubs took on the best local talent over three weekends at the South East Regional Swimming Championships.

The City of Oxford youngster was the class act in the boys’ 14-year-old backstroke at K2 in Crawley, triumphing over 50, 100 and 200m.

Skelton went home with five medals, adding bronzes in the 100 and 200m freestyle.

Billy Wotton was the club’s other multiple winner in the same age group, in the 100 and 200m breaststroke.

Mimi Morley won in the girls’ age 14 backstroke over 50m, while Gretel Gootgame was 100m freestyle champion in the year below.

The club also bagged five titles in the 15 and over regional competition, held at High Wycombe.

Emily Ford (200m backstroke) and Natasha Fenton (50m breaststroke) were winners in the 15-year-old girls’ category, Daniel Jenkins took the boys’ aged 16 400m IM, while there was also success in the 17 and over with Toby McKay (100m breaststroke) and Emily Wood (400m IM).

Lottie James, 13, reached nine finals to provide the stand-out performer for Abingdon Vale’s 13-strong squad.

Her four medals included IM gold over 200 and 400m.

Sunni Johnson starred for Wantage White Horses, taking silver in the 400m IM, plus bronze in the 200 IM and 200m breaststroke.

Geo Ratouly completed their club’s haul with 100m freestyle silver, qualifying for the British National Championships next month, along with 50m freestyle bronze.